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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Today was a crazy, crazy day, and thus perfect for the list topic: To-Do List

1. Do laundry.(check) I ended up doing four loads, including the bed sheets, comforter, John's dress shirts, and some towels. I folded the laundry while watching 18 Kids and Counting on Netflix streaming. It made me feel productive to watch the Duggars (all 18) running around the house whilst I was busy keeping my own home tidy. This fact becomes even more relevant to list item #6.

2. Go to workout class. (check) Today was a mixture of cardio, kick-boxing, and crunches.

3. Find birthday card for Grandpa Jim. (check) It's a cute one with birds and a mailbox with cards inside.

4. Email John about mom's computer. (check) He's watching out for her and making sure she gets enough RAM in her new computer. I have no idea what that means, but I conveyed the information.

5. Send off our taxes. (nope) The tax guy has yet to confirm that the forms are correct and complete. Hopefully tomorrow (fingers crossed...)

6. Go to Walmart. (check) I went to get John some tennis shoes and to look at purses for the summer. While wandering through the aisles, I was blocked off by two ladies in denim skirts talking at the aisle cap.....MRS. DUGGAR AND A DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!! NOT TWO HOURS PRIOR, I WAS WATCHING HER CLEAN THE KITCHEN ON 18 Kids and Counting!!!! Is there a hole torn somewhere in the universe? Have I broken through to the fourth dimension? Is she judging me for wearing jeans? None of these questions have been answered...

After all that excitement, I almost forgot what I went into Walmart for, but I recovered and made some sensible purchases (Mrs. Duggar would have been pleased). I came home, finished folding laundry, and updated facebook with my amazing adventure. I think tonight I'm going to watch Atonement and Penelope just to see if James McAvoy shows up at Starbucks tomorrow. Fingers crossed....

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It's been a few days, and I apologize for that. I was gone this weekend and didn't even have a chance to look at the lists until last night. So, I will now attempt four lists at once. (drumroll, please...)

#26 BOOKS I'D LIKE TO READ THIS YEAR

Elisabeth Elliot's Passion and Purity: Learning Christ's Control and The Path of Loneliness

Amy Carmichael's If

A.J. Bueltmann's White Queen of the Cannibals: The Story of Mary Slessor of Calabar

Jamie Zumwalt's Simple Obsession

C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity

Carolyn Mahaney's Feminine Appeal (reread)

Joshua Harris' Dug Down Deep

#27 LESSONS LEARNED

Marriage is harder than you ever thought it could be, but it's also more rewarding than you could ever imagine.

At 27, it's still okay to miss your mom sometimes.

Wax paper is not oven-proof, and it's not the same as parchment paper.

If you follow the recipe, chances are you can make pretty decent food.

God blesses us so that we can, in turn, bless others.

It's completely possible to live without cable television. You'll probably even learn to like it.

Seattle - we went for our honeymoon, and I fell in love with it. I want to go back!

New Zealand - John and I are thinking maybe we'll save up and go for our 25th anniversary. Fingers crossed.

Switzerland - I so, so, so want to stand in front of Swiss chateaus and nibble on Swiss chocolate...

#29 FAVORITE FOODS

Favorite Dessert - cheesecake, hands down. On our honeymoon we had red velvet cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory, and I almost melted with happiness. It was the best thing I had ever tasted in my life, and I am pretty sure if I had a week to live I would consume the entire tri-state supply en masse.

Favorite Vegetable - sweet potatoes. They're delicious in pretty much any form you prepare them: baked whole, baked as fries, mashed, cubed and roasted, boiled....yep, pretty much delicious all the time.

Favorite Side Dish - broccoli and cheese. Yum.

Favorite Italian Dish - lasagna. It's been my favorite since I was quite little, and I still love it.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Today's list was supposed to be entitled "Things I'd Rather Be Doing," but since that takes on a somewhat negative tone, I'd like to modify it to "Things I Get to Do." Here we go...

I get to go to dinner tonight with an awesome couple who make their own yogurt, grill bratwursts, and host community group in their home at least twice a month. Plus, they both teach full-time at different schools. They're kind of awesome.

I get to visit my in-laws this weekend in Mena, which means a 2.5 hour road trip with my husband. We're going to listen to Matt Chandler's series on Habakkuk, which we have both been waiting patiently on (we agreed not to listen to any of the series until he was finished).

I get to write, and have it published in the newspaper. Like, as a job.

I get to make my husband homemade trail mix because I love him and care about his health. This week's recipe includes Cascadian Farms granola and dried blueberries.

I get to ride my bicycle.

I get to experience a shooting range (this weekend, under supervised conditions, because I'm a Southern girl and that's what we do).

I get to collect craft ideas with the hope of someday actually "crafting," and in fact "crafting" so well that I no longer have to buy Christmas or birthday gifts but can simply give my crafts away as presents to those I adore most.

I get to look at pictures of the cutest newborn baby in the world, Evelyn June.

I get to pull my hair to the side because it's long enough to actually work and I think it looks really retro.

I get to stream movies and tv shows live because my husband and I decided Netflix was a good investment.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I thought instead of telling you what I saw, I would let you see for yourself!

Here's my list:

This is what I saw this morning,around 7:20am, after John went off to work. I read articles in preparation for a morning interview, then got ready to work out at WOW Fitness (which is my new favorite thing).

This is what I saw right before I went to WOW Fitness class at 8am. Today was "Cardio Groove," which is kinda like Zumba, but with classier music. I promise, it is nearly impossible to have a bad day after watching an 80-year-old grandma in a leopard-print leotard do the Cuban Shuffle. I promise you.

This is what I saw after I got back. John drew muscles for me on sticky notes!

This is what I saw around 11:30am, when I singlehandedly got two mountain bikes down the stairs and into my Yaris. John's needed a tune-up, and mine has a flat tire. We (the bikes and I) went down the street to The Bike Route.

This is what I saw as the nice guy at The Bike Route tuned up John's bike. For free!

This is what I saw around 2pm, when I headed over to the library to write.

This is what I saw about 4pm, from our bedroom window. Hello, Yaris.

This is what I saw around 4:30pm. It's kinda my new favorite snack in the whole world.

This is what I saw around 4:45pm. Today was laundry day.

This is what I saw around 6:30pm.

Dinner for Kelly: pasta with tomatoes and garlic chicken, and a side of green beans with garlic. Yum!

Dinner for John: pasta with tomatoes, Italian sausage, and garlic chicken, and a side of green beans with garlic and ranch dressing.

This is what I saw around 6:45pm. We watch a lot of Lost (I got John the series for Christmas). It's not a great picture, but it serves its purpose.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

I was gone all day yesterday (morning walk w/ friends, wedding, dinner w/ church friends), so I didn't get a chance to even think about List #19. So I'm up at 6:40am on a Sunday and decided to hit both lists at once. Here we go....

John's protein of choice at most gas station stops. I hate the smell, but oh well. He does most of the driving, so I'll deal with it.

In the entertainment category:

We listen to a lot of podcasts. A lot. Our favorites include: Matt Chandler at the Village Church, Tim Keller, some Mark Driscoll, JR Vassar at Apostle's Church in NYC, and Ira Glass' This American Life.

Knitting. I knit an entire scarf (and it was really long, too) on the Michigan road trip. It's great b/c unlike reading, I can carry on a conversation and knit at the same time. And John can play podcasts without feeling like he's distracting me. Good stuff.

Monday, March 14, 2011

I chose to focus on the things I love about my community group. I love them. We're up to 25-30 people, depending on the week. It can feel overwhelming and noisy, but each person brings something specifically unique to the group. I am developing what I hope are lifelong friendships with some of the nicest, most compassionate, most Biblically-grounded people I've ever met.

Monday, March 7, 2011

1. Cultivate more interaction between readers and myself. 2. Write more.3. Encourage other bloggers by commenting, linking back to their posts, and listing them in my blog roll. 4. Focus on a theme each month and stick to that in all my posts (this month will be easy!)5. Increase readers/followers.